Antenna mounting fixture

ABSTRACT

A fixture for holding a whip antenna element in position outside a cabinet housing a television set or the like is assembled with the cabinet by snapping it into place within an aperture in a wall of the cabinet. The fixture allows replacement of the antenna element from outside the cabinet.

United States Patent 1191 Lehman Mar. 19, 1974 ANTENNA MOUNTING FIXTURE3.254.344 5/1966 Rohrs 343/901 [76] Inventor: Roger D. Lehman, 60504Warwick 3.699.580 10/1972 Joseph et a1. 343/702 Rd., Deerfield, Ill.60015 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Filed g 23 1972 1,132,278 9/1956France 343/805 [21] Appl. No.: 283,204 Primary Examiner-Eli LiebermanAttorney, Agent, or Firm--Neumann, Williams, Ander- 52 us. 01 343/702,343/882, 174/153 A [51] Int. Cl. HOlq 1/24 58 Field of Search 343/702,715, 805, 901, [57] ABSTRACT 3 3 2; 7 5 A A fixture for holding a whipantenna element in posttion outside a cabinet housing a television setor the 5 References Cited like is assembled with the cabinet by snappingit into UNITED STATES PATENTS place within an aperture in a wall of thecabinet. The fixture allows replacement of the antenna element 225:2;343/901 from outside the cabinet. 3.560.981 10 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures1 ANTENNA MOUNTING FIXTURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION when not in use.When in use, the antenna element is extended from the cabinet, andadjustably supported by a ball structure at its lower end, to permitrotation of the antenna element into the most desirable orientation.

Because of theconstruction of the antenna element, which requires theuse of a relatively thin tube for the extendable tube, the antennaelements are easily broken and frequently must be replaced. Inconventional constructions, it is necessary to replace not only theantenna element, but also the fixture which maintains it in positionrelative to the cabinet of the television set. This necessitates, inmost cases, removing the back of the cabinet in order to replace thefixture, and sometimes also requires the removal of the television setfrom the cabinet in order to gain access to the fixture.

It is also necessary, in conventional constructions, to

have access to the interior of the cabinet during original assembly ofthe antenna fixture with the cabinet, as a step in the manufacture ofthe television set. As a consequence, either this step must be performedbefore insertion of the television set into its cabinet, or the sameproblems which are encountered during replacement of broken antennaelements are also encountered during manufacture.

It is desirable to provide an antenna fixture which permits replacementof broken antenna elements without the need for access into the interiorof the television cabinet. It is also desirable to provide an antennafixture which may be originally installed from the exterior of thecabinet.

Accordingly, it is the principal object to the present invention toprovide a fixture which permits replacement of antenna elements fromoutside the television cabinet.

Another object to the present invention is to provide such a fixturewhich may be assembled in fixed relation to the television. cabinet fromoutside the cabinet,

without the need for gaining access to the cabinet interior.

These and other objects of the present invention will become manifestupon an examination of the following description and the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONOF THE INVENTION In one embodiment of the presentinvention, there is provided an antenna fixture having a plastichousing, the lower portion of such housing being adapted to fit withinan aperture provided in a cabinet for'a television set or the like,- thehousing having integrally formed therewith a plurality of resiliant tabsadapted to normally extend outwardly from the housing but adapted totemporarily bend inwardly when the housing is inserted into theaperture, the upper extremity of said housing having threads forthreadably receiving a cover, a ball retainer held in position by saidcover, and an antenna element connected to said ball, whereby saidantenna element may be replaced, if nec essary, from without saidcabinet by removing said cover.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Reference must now be made to theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-section of an antenna fixture incorporatingthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-section of a portion of the apparatus in FIG.1 taking in plane 2-2 at right angles to the plane of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to FIG. 1, the antennafixture 10 comprises a one-piece plastic housing 12 having an elongatetubular body 13, and a flange l4 protruding outwardly therefrom,disposed adjacent to the exterior surface of a thin wall 15 which ispreferably the wall of a television cabinet or the like. An aperture 16is provided in the wall 15 and the lower portion of the housing 12 isconfigured to fit snugly within the aperture 16. A key 17, formedintegrally with the housing 12, is disposed in a keyway provided in thewall. 15 to prevent the housing 12 from rotating relative to the wall15. Below the wall 15, and formed integrally with the housing 12 are apair of tabs 20 which extend outward from the housing 12, with theirupper ends engaging the lower surface of the wall 15. The tabs 20,therefore, cooperate with the flange 14 to hold the housing 12 in fixedrelation to the wall 15 Above the flange 14, the tubular body 13 hasexternal threads 21. A cover 22, having internal threads 23, isadaptedto be threadably received on the housing 12, and retained in positionthereon by means of the interlocking threads. The upward extremity ofthe cover 22 comprises an inwardly extending flange 24 such as to form ashoulder 25 above the tubular body 13. A ball retainer 26 is providedwith a flange 27 which is adapted to be trapped within the cover 22below the shoulder 25. A whip antenna element having an extendable tube30, slidably engaged in an aperture extending through a ball 31. Thetube 30 is held in position since the ball 31 is firmly seated againstthe lower surface of the ball retainer 26. Friction between the tube 30and the aperture within the ball 31 maintains the tube 30 in itsextended position, just as the several sections of the tube 30 aremaintained 1 in adjustable fixed relation relative to each other byfriction there between. The ball retainer 26 has a generally sphericalsurface with an aperture 32 centrally located at the upper extremitythereof. The aperture 32 is large in relation to the diameter of thetube 30 to permit, while the tube 30 is extended, the ball 31 to rotatewithin the ball retainer 32 and, thereby, to allow adjustableorientation of the antenna.

An electrically conducting ferrule 33 is formed in the shape of a hollowtube having a flared upper portion 34 and a flared lower portion 35. Theflared upper portion 34 is of such a size in relation to the ball 31 asto provide a circular line of tangency between the interior surface ofthe flared portion 34 and the external surface of the ball 31. A spring36 surrounds the ferrule 33 within the housing 12. The upper end of thespring 36 urges the flared upper portion 34 in an upward direction intocontact with the ball 31, while the lower end of the spring 36 bearsagainst a lower wall 37 of the housing 12. The wall 37 has a circularaperture 40 centrally located therein, and the ferrule 33 is receivedwithin the aperture 40.

An electrical lead 41 is connected to the ferrule 33 and preferably tothe flared lower portion 35 by means of soldering or the like. The lead41 is connected with the RF input of the television set by means of apair of cooperating connectors 42 and 43, and a further lead 44 whichinterconnects the connector 43 with the RF input of the TV set. Theflared lower portion 35 of the ferrule 33 retains the ferrule 33 inposition within the housing 12, even when the cover member 24 isnotassembled in relation thereto. When it is desired to store the tube30 within the cabinet, the tube 30 is moved downwardly relative to theball 31, through the hollow ferrule 33 and into the space below.

When it is desired to replace the tube 30 and the ball 31, the cover 22is unscrewed from assembled relation with the tube 13, and then the ballretainer 26 and the cover 22 are disassembled from the ball 31 and tube30 by drawing them outwardly along the length of the tube 30 past theouter end thereof. The cover 22 and the ball retainer 26 may then beassembled, together with a replacement tube 30 and ball 31, by placingthe cover 22 and the ball retainer 24 over the end of the replacementantenna element tube and sliding them along the length of the antennaelement tube until the ball retainer comes into fitted relationship withthe replacement ball. The cover 22 is then assembled with the housing 12by engaging the threads 21 and 23 and screwing the cover 22 into place.

The lower portion of the exterior surface of the cover 22 is providedwith cut-away portions 45, so as to form a hexagonal cross-section. Thisenables the cover 22 to be assembled tightly in relation to the housing12 by applying a wrench to the hexagonal cross-section portion of thecover 22. The housing 12 is prevented from rotating in relation to thewall 15 as the cover 22 is tightened, by the key 17. As the cover 22 isscrewed down in relation to the housing 12, the spring 36 is compressed,thereby urging the ferrule 33 into tight contact with the ball 31 andinsuring good electric contact therebetween. At the same time, thefrictional force between the ball 31 and the ferrule 33 is increased sothat the ball 31 is thereby maintained in any desired position.

The housing 12 and cover 22 are formed of plastic material so that theelectrically conductive portions of the antenna are insulated from thecabinet wall 15. Accordingly, the antenna fixture may be employed with acabinet having a wall 15 formed of conductive material, withoutinterfering with the operation of the antenna.

The housing 12 and cover 22 are formed of a plastic material having goodcold flow characteristics, such that they can maintain their shapes forlong periods of time even though subjected to a constant force. Althougha number of materials, including conventional plastics filled with glassstrands or the like could be used, one material which has been found tobe quite satisfactory is Acrylonitrile Butadiene-Styrene, and iscommercially available from the Eastman-Kodak Company under thetrademark Cycolac.

In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the flange 14 maybe eliminated altogether from the construction of housing 12. In thisevent, the function of the flange 14, of bearing against the outersurface of the wall 15, is performed by the innermost convolution of thethreads 23. As another alternative, the cover 22 may be constructed tofit within the housing 12, in which case the cover 22 would haveexternal threads and the housing 12 would have cooperating internalthreads.

During the manufacture of the television set, the fixture of the presentinvention may be assembled by sim ply inserting the lower portion of thehousing 12 into the aperture 16 of the wall 15. As the tabs 20 areattached to the remainder of the housing 12, only at their lowerextremities, where they are aligned with the exterior surface of thehousing 12, they are free to bend inwardly, toward the ferrule 33 duringinsertion, until the ends of the tabs clear the wall 15, and then springinto the position shown in FIG. 1. The step of assembling the antennafixture with the cabinet may be performed at any time during themanufacture of the television set, allowing maximum flexibility therein.The connectors 42 and 43 serve to establish connection with the antennawithout requiring any soldering at the time of assembly.

From the above description, it is evident that the present inventionsimultaneously achieves the objects of providing an antenna fixturewhich may be assembled initially in relation with a cabinet wall fromoutside the cabinet, simply by inserting the fixture into an aperture ofthe wall, and the function of permitting easy replacement ofa brokenantenna element without the necessity of gaining access to the interiorof the cabinet.

What is claimed is:

1. In an apparatus of the class described, a one-piece insulated housinghaving upper and lower portions, said housing lower portion being ofgenerally cylindrical configuration and adapted to be received within anaperture in a supporting wall, said housing lower portion having aplurality of resilient tabs normally extending outwardly from said lowerhousing portion but adapted to be temporarily moved inwardly againstaperturedefining portions of said wall in the course of inserting saidhousing lower portion in said wall aperture, said housing upper portionhaving a centrally-apertured cover detachably connected to said housingupper portion, an antenna element having an a enlarged portion, at leastthe lower portion of said enlarged antenna portion being disposed insaid housing upper portion; and

a conductive member positioned within said housing, one end of saidconductive member being in electrical contact with said antenna elementand the other end of said conductive member projecting from said lowerhousing portion.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the upper portion of saidhousing has external threads, and said cover comprises a tubular bodyhaving cooperating internal threads, whereby said cover is removablysecured in fixed relation to said housing.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said cover includes aninwardly extending flange at the extremity of said tubular body, theinner extremity of said flange defining said centrally disposedaperture,

and including a ball retainer having a curved surface portion and aflange portion, said curved surface portion being adapted to engage theenlarged portion of said antenna element, and the flange portion of saidball retainer being adapted to be retained in position by the flange ofsaid cover.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the exterior threads providedon said upper portion of said housing are adapted to engage one surfaceof said wall and said tabs being adapted to engage the opposite surfaceof said wall.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said housing is provided witha flange protruding outwardly therefrom, said flange being adapted toengage one surface of said wall, and said tabs being adapted to en gagethe opposite surface of said wall.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said conductive membercomprises a conductive ferrule, and including resiliant means for urgingsaid ferrule into electrical contact with said antenna element, andelectrically conductive means connected with the end of said ferruleremote from said antenna element.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said electrically conductivemeans comprises a pair of cooperating connectors adapted for releasablycompleting an electrical connection with said ferrule.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1, including a key provided on saidlower portion of said housing, said wall being provided with a notchadjacent to the aperture in said wall for receiving said key andpreventing said housing from rotating relative to said wall.

9. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said upper and lower portionsof said housing are integrally formed of plastic material.

10. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said cover has a portion ofits outer surface formed with a regular polygonal cross-section.

1. In an apparatus of the class described, a one-piece insulated housinghaving upper and lower portions, said housing lower portion being ofgenerally cylindrical configuration and adapted to be received within anaperture in a supporting wall, said housing lower portion having aplurality of resilient tabs normally extending outwardly from said lowerhousing portion but adapted to be temporarily moved inwardly againstaperturedefining portions of said wall in the course of inserting saidhousing lower portion in said wall aperture, said housing upper portionhaving a centrally-apertured cover detachably connected to said housingupper portion, an antenna element having an a enlarged portion, at leastthe lower portion of said enlarged antenna portion being disposed insaid housing upper portion; and a conductive member positioned withinsaid housing, one end of said conductive member being in electricalcontact with said antenna element and the other end of said conductivemember projecting from said lower housing portion.
 2. Apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the upper portion of said housing hasexternal threads, and said cover comprises a tubular body havingcooperating internal threads, whereby said cover is removably secured infixed relation to said housing.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 2,wherein said cover includes an inwardly extending flange at theextremity of said tubular body, the inner extremity of said flangedefining said centrally disposed aperture, and including a ball retainerhaving a curved surface portion and a flange portion, said curvedsurface portion being adapted to engage the enlarged portion of saidantenna element, and the flange portion of said ball retainer beingadapted to be retained in position by the flange of said cover. 4.Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the exterior threads provided onsaid upper portion of said housing are adapted to engage one surface ofsaid wall and said tabs being adapted to engage the opposite surface ofsaid wall.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said housing isprovided with a flange protruding outwardly therefrom, said flange beingadapted to engage one surface of said wall, and said tabs being adaptedto engage the opposite surface of said wall.
 6. Apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein said conductive member comprises a conductive ferrule,and including resiliant means for urging said ferrule into electricalcontact with said antenna element, and electrically conductive meansconnected with the end of said ferrule remote from said antenna element.7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said electrically conductivemeans comprises a pair of cooperating connectors adapted for releasablycompleting an electrical connection with said ferrule.
 8. Apparatusaccording to claim 1, including a key provided on said lower portion ofsaid housing, said wall being provided with a notch adjacent to theaperture in said wall for receiving said key and preventing said housingfrom rotating relative to said wall.
 9. Apparatus according to claim 1,wherein said upper and lower portions of said housing are integrallyformed of plastic material.
 10. Apparatus according to claim 1, whereinsaid cover has a portion of its outer surface formed with a regularpolygonal cross-section.